Droughts in India are recurrent climatic hazards with profound implications for food security. They result from both natural and human-induced factors.

Climatically, the erratic behavior of the southwest monsoon is the dominant cause. Delay in onset, weak monsoon phases, or early withdrawal lead to meteorological droughts. Regions like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Karnataka are particularly vulnerable. El Niño events further intensify monsoon failure. Hydrological droughts arise from declining groundwater and reduced river flows due to over-extraction and poor watershed management. Land degradation, deforestation, and unsustainable irrigation practices aggravate the problem by reducing soil moisture retention.

The impact on food production is direct. Rainfed areas, which account for nearly 60% of cultivated land, face severe yield losses in millets, pulses, and oilseeds. In irrigated regions, groundwater depletion worsens vulnerability, as seen in Punjab and Haryana. Drought-induced crop failures disrupt distribution, straining the Public Distribution System (PDS) and increasing dependence on imports. Food availability also becomes uneven, with surpluses in irrigated belts coexisting with acute shortages in drought-hit zones.

Agricultural policies offer partial solutions. Initiatives such as the National Food Security Act, Minimum Support Prices, and PDS ensure food access during crises. Programmes promoting drought-resistant varieties, micro-irrigation, and watershed development improve resilience at the production level. However, policies remain skewed toward water-intensive crops like rice and sugarcane, which exacerbate vulnerability. Regional imbalances in procurement and storage also limit effectiveness.

In conclusion, while Indian agricultural policies address drought impacts through food distribution and safety nets, resolving the issue requires structural changes. Promoting climate-resilient crops, improving water-use efficiency, and strengthening decentralized storage and distribution systems are essential to secure food production and availability in the face of recurring droughts.